Books, Music, Movies, Collectibles and Culture

Giveaways

You were prepped and ready pre-New Year’s Eve 2017. Your HPB Gift Cards were locked and loaded and you had a slightly uninterested, yet supportive group of friends waiting in the wings to hold you accountable. The resolution? Read more in 2018. The result? HA!

We get it. Work got in the way, sports happened, your cousin’s wedding, tricks and treats, Thanksgiving eats and before you could crack the cover on your first New York Times Bestseller, it was December. No worries, you’ve still got plenty of time…not War And Peace time, mind you. But you can do this, and we can help.

Books are kind of our thing, so we’ve curated a list for slackers, not unlike yourself, who’ve found themselves worse for wear with that whole bibliophile resolution thing. Read on (see what we did there?) to check out our top 5 picks to help you make it to the end of the year without becoming a repeat resolution maker.

1.What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky: Stories – Lesley Nneka Arimah
Author Lesley Nneka Arimah tasks readers with tapping into the root of their familial dysfunction in her debut collection of short stories. The majority of the pieces are set in post-apocalyptic times, often causing the characters to grapple with the very foundation of their being as their behavior plays out in desperate circumstances. As each story unfolds, Arimah touches on the taboo topics woven into the fabric of both Nigerian and American households. Against a weary, yet at times fanciful backdrop, she brings much-needed attention to the ways we deal with class, gender and death. Continue reading →

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as it involves many of my favorite hobbies – spending time with family, watching football and wearing stretchy pants while eating lots of delicious food. ☺️

But reading is another way I love to spend time and Half Price Books has its own special holiday to celebrate reading on Saturday, Nov. 18 – Booksgiving Day!

2017 is the fifth year we’ve celebrated Booksgiving Day at Half Price Books with a special storytime at 2 p.m. local time. Every child who attends will receive a FREE children’s book to take home with them, while supplies last.

Booksgiving Day: Independence, MO

In addition to the books we give away in store, we’ll also donate a book for every book sold on HPB.com on November 18 to rebuild libraries in schools and non-profit organizations in Hurricane Harvey-affected areas of Texas. All books given away are part of our Million Book Donation Project.

So whether it’s in store or online, we hope you’ll celebrate Booksgiving Day with us on Saturday, Nov. 18!

Supporting literacy and providing books to families is key to our Half Price Books mission! Join us at your neighborhood Half Price Books location on Booksgiving Day, Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. Every child who attends will receive a free book to take home and add to their library, or start a new one! *Limit one preselected book per child while supplies last.

If you aren’t a kid but want to participate, how about picking up a copy of your favorite kid’s book and sharing it with a special child in your life?

Let’s get a book to every child, in every home! BW, the Half Price Books Bookworm, and I will see you there!

The books donated on Booksgiving Day are part of Half Price Books Million Book Donation Project, which has donated more than 1.3 million books to non-profit organizations and schools in 2014.

Thank you to all our booklovers who entered our #MeMyShelfandI Giveaway. We asked and you delivered! There were thousands of entries filled with amazing shelves and we truly enjoyed hearing all of the great stories behind your collections. Alas, there could only be one randomly selected winner of this giveaway. Without further ado, please meet and join us in congratulating the winner, Natalie! – Sam

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m 18 years old and I’ll be going to Cornell University next year, most likely majoring in English. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been dancing ballet and reading books. I’m also a Disney fanatic—I wrote my admissions essay about Disneyland!

I have a blog that I started to document my freshman year, and one of my recent posts covered the books I brought home from the HPB clearance sale (14 books for $20?! AWESOME).

2. Tell us about your collection.

My books range from my pre-teen years to today, so there’s a huge variety. I’ve sold plenty back to Half Price, but have still kept many books I read years ago.

3. What’s your favorite Half Price Books location?

Definitely the HPB by White Rock Lake in Dallas (The Flagship). It’s HUGE! The first time I went, I panicked because I wouldn’t have enough time to go through the entire fiction section before closing (definitely a daylong affair). Kind of far from my house, but well worth the drive.

I like how I’ve organized my shelf. My main shelf is general/miscellaneous, my end table is school-assigned reading (so my younger siblings can find required books easily), and my floor/dresser is for books I have yet to read.

Half Price Books is great. It gives me hope that printed books will be here for a long time and I’m so glad that there are others committed to keeping them around. Also, I post about books and movies on my blog, Natalie in Collegeland, including books I’ve bought at HPB. I have a Goodreads account too, if anybody’s interested in reading some of the many reviews I’ve written.

March Madness is sweeping the nation, and here at Half Price Books we are celebrating by holding a TOURNAMENT OF SIDEKICKS! “Why sidekicks?” you ask. Because they are the comic relief. They bolster the hero’s (or villain’s) backbone. They are the only ones that the heroes can trust. Everybody loves a good sidekick. So, here is an Ode to Sidekicks.

Download a Tournament of Sidekicks bracket today! Which sidekick do you think will come out on top? Remember, you can enter to win a $50 Half Price Books Gift Card if you can correctly predict the winner.

Fill in your choices for each match-up of sidekicks and identify who you think will be the ultimate winner.

Visit twitter.com/halfpricebooks and retweet (RT) the giveaway message tweeted by Half Price Books (will be tweeted the morning of March 17), then click to “Follow” @halfpricebooks if you’re not already one of our fantastic followers.

Then, tweet a message stating your own prediction. Who do you think will be the champion of the 2014 Tournament of Sidekicks? Be sure to include @halfpricebooks and #tournamentofsidekicks in your tweet so that we can find your tweet out in cyberspace. Here’s an example tweet: “I predict that Dwight Schrute from The Office will be the final winner of @halfpricebooks #tournamentofsidekicks!”

Predictions are due by the end of Round One, 01:59pm CT on Thursday, March 20, 2014. Limit one entry per person.

Attention, parents and educators! HPB wants to help your children’s school libraries! Now through Sunday, February 16, 2014, register atwww.hpb.com/schoolsand tell us how your school would use a $100 HPB gift card to enhance your school library. We’ll randomly select one winner from each of our 36 markets on March 4, 2014.

And stay tuned, because all registered schools will be invited to aHalf Pint Librarygiveaway in their area later this spring. Last year, with the help of our generous customers’ donations, HPB gave away nearly 300,000 children’s books nationwide to local schools and nonprofit organizations during our 15thannual Half Pint Library Book Drive. Here are just a few ways the donated books helped build Half Pint Libraries across the country in 2013:

Used to start a Young Adult reading nook in Houston, Texas

Supporting a Read Around the World program in Seattle, Washington

Summer reading rewards in Appleton, Wisconsin

Resources for youth art therapy groups in Phoenix, Arizona

Operation Santa gifts in Kansas City, Missouri

Therapy for special needs children in Chicago, Illinois

Literacy instruction in Minneapolis, Minnesota

ESL programs in Madison, Wisconsin

Book exchanges in Columbus, Ohio

In 2014, we’re excited to partner with our customers to get even more books into the hands of children who need them the most. This year’s Half Pint Library Book Drive runs February 16-March 31, 2014. During that time, drop off your new or gently used children’s book at any Half Price Books location.

After the drive is complete, Half Price Books will match each book donated as part of our Million Book Donation Project and will distribute the books at special giveaway events in each of our markets in the spring. Stay tuned tohpb.com/halfpintfor a giveaway event near you!

Like many of you (50K of you, in fact), I resolved to read more in 2013. I challenged myself to read 100 books before the year’s end. And I can proudly say I did it!

Since I work for a bookstore and mingle with publishers year-round, I’m lucky enough to always have a good book on hand, including some advanced reader copies. Here’s a look at my 15 favorites among the 100 books I read in 2013, along with my ratings of each. The first 13 on my list earned themselves a 5-star rating. Keep reading to learn how you can enter to win a $100 HPB Gift Card.

So now it’s your turn, booklovers. Join me! I’m making a resolution again for 2014 to keep on reading more! Tell us about your resolution (here) and enter for a chance to score a $100 HPB Gift Card.

HOW TO ENTER: Go to hpb.com/resolve and complete the entry form, including how many books you resolve to read in 2014. You must provide a valid email address so we can contact you if you’re the lucky winner. Limit one entry per person. Deadline to enter is Friday, January 31, 2014.* Just for kicks, tell us what books you’ll be reading this year in the comments below. Need some recommendations? Stop in your local store today and ask for help. Happy New Year!

*One randomly selected winner will be notified via email after January 31, 2014.

—

Kristen B. is Procurement Specialist at Half Price Books Distribution Center.
You can follow her on Twitter at @kbev302.

UPDATE: Week Four Deadline has been extended to Tuesday, September 3 at 3:00 p.m. CST. Winner will be announced at 4 p.m. CST.

Fine print:

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Entrants must follow HPB on Instagram, and pictures must be uploaded to Instagram tagging @halfpricebooks and using the hashtags #bookbeard and #giveaway to enter. If Instagram pictures are tweeted mentioning @halfpricebooks and #bookbeard, entrants will be entered into giveaway twice. No limit on number of entries per week (i.e. people can submit 5 book beard pics and be entered to win 5 times). Employees and family of employees may participate but will not be eligible to win giveaway. Gift card prizes are only valid in-store and may not be used online at hpbmarketplace.com or at the HPB Outlet.

What are you waiting for? Go #BookBeard!

—

Becky is Marketing Communications Manager at Half Price Books Corporate.You can follow her on Twitter at @Bexican75.

HALF PRICE BOOKS’ BOOK BEARD GIVEAWAY OFFICIAL RULES

OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. THE FOLLOWING GIVEAWAY IS INTENDED FOR PLAY IN THE UNITED STATES ONLY. DO NOT ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY IF YOU ARE NOT LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES.

ELIGIBILITY: The Half Price Books, Records and Magazines, Incorporated (Half Price Books) $10 Gift Card Giveaway for the 2013 Book Beard Giveaway (the “Giveaway”) is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees of Half Price Books and their respective parent companies, affiliates, promotion and other vendor agencies involved in this Giveaway, as well as the immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee, are not eligible to win the gift card. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Giveaway is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

GIVEAWAY TIMING: The Giveaway entry period begins Friday, August 2 at 3:01 p.m. CDT and ends Friday, August 30 at 3:00 p.m. CDT (the “Promotional Period”). Four (4) winners will be chosen during that time (one per week).

DESCRIPTION OF GIVEAWAY: Via online method only, entrants will have the opportunity to win four (4) Half Price Books Gift Cards for use at Half Price Books retail locations (not valid online at HPB Marketplace or at Half Price Books Outlet locations). Entries will be accepted starting at 12:01 AM CDT on Monday, July 15, 2013 until 11:59 PM CDT on Monday, July 29, 2013. Gift Card Giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced after Monday, July 29, 2013.

HOW TO ENTER: The Book Beard giveaway will take place on Instagram. To enter the giveaway, entrants must: 1) Follow Half Price Books on Instagram 2) Upload a picture of themselves “Book Bearding” to their personal Instagram using the hashtags #bookbeard and #giveaway, and tag @halfpricebooks in the picture. Book Bearding is defined as someone who holds a book (cover art facing out) over his or her mouth, but below the nose (like a beard)). If entrants tweet their Instagram picture mentioning @halfpricebooks and #bookbeard, they will be entered twice. All entries must be received by 3:00 PM CST on the last day of Giveaway. No limit on number of entries per week. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

WINNER PRIZE SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION: This is a game of chance. Odds of winning are based on the number of eligible entries. Winners will be selected at random using a.n independent auto-generated selection process available at http://www.random.org/integers/. Prize notification will be announced on Instagram and will be completed by 4 p.m. on August 9, 16, 23 and 30 (after the entry period for the prior week has ended). The prize is not transferable; no prize substitutions or cash alternatives are allowed except as may be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Entrants who live outside of the United States or fail to complete all required entry rules will be disqualified. One randomly selected winner will be chosen among the entrants.

PRIZE AND RETAIL VALUE: Four (4) winners will receive one (1) $10 Half Price Books Gift Card (the “Prize”) valid for purchases at Half Price Books retail locations. Gift cards are not valid as a payment method online, nor at Half Price Books Outlet locations. Prize is valued at $10 (US). Sponsor will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen gift cards. All federal, state, and local taxes and fees are the sole responsibility of the winner. Sponsor will comply with all income tax reporting obligations.

AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES: Participation in the Giveaway constitutes full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent on fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

BY ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY, participants release and hold harmless Sponsor, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Giveaway or any prize won, including any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with participation in the Giveaway. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of this offer, administration of the Giveaway or in the announcement of prizes. In the event Sponsor is prevented from continuing with this Giveaway, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the Giveaway is undermined by any event including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, hacking, or any federal, state or local government law, order or regulation, order of any court, or other cause not reasonably within Sponsor’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the Giveaway without further obligation and, if so, Sponsor reserves the right, but not the obligation, to award the prize from among all valid and eligible entries received up to the time of such Force Majeure event. All entries are the property of Sponsor and are not returnable.

ONLINE REGISTRATION: This Giveaway is intended for viewing in the United States only and shall be construed and interpreted according to U.S. law. Do not enter this Giveaway if you are not a resident of the United States. Repetitive automated electronic submission of entries is specifically prohibited, and any such entries will be disqualified. Entries will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. In the event of a dispute, the potential winner may be required to provide proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the identified Instagram account, and Sponsor’s decision will be final. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries, including any error that may result in an erroneous appearance of qualification for a prize. Sponsor is not responsible for any problem or technical malfunction of any computer equipment or software that results in loss of entry. WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY COMPUTERIZED SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE GIVEAWAY IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

USE OF ENTRANT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION: Information collected from entrants is subject to the HPB privacy policy.

April is National Humor Month and National Poetry Month. So what better way to celebrate than put them both together and have a Humor Poetry Contest! The rules are simple:

We will give you a word, such as flounder or bookworm, and you will write an humorous poem based on that word in the comments below.

The poem can be rhyming, free verse, Haiku or any other style you like

The poem should be no more than 20 lines long.

Your poem can be about any subject you like, but as with the comments on this blog, please do contribute constructively to the task at hand and do not include profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a personal or unrelated business.

The contest begins April 17 at noon and ends April 18 at noon.

Leave your poem in the comments of this post.

The winner will be randomly chosen by 4p.m. on April 18 (no purchase necessary)

The winner will receive a $10 HPB gift card!

And your word is: BUMP. Here’s a sample poem:

I found a curious bump this morning

When I was making up my bed

It was large and round and oddly enough

About the size of my head.

My hands flew to my face

My head where it ought to be

I would hate to think my head

Hadn’t gotten up with me.

Carefully, I poked the bump

And it began to growl

But since I don’t have a pet

I had to wonder how

I quickly threw the covers back

Letting loose a scream of fright

As a raccoon flew out the window

Which will be shut tonight.

Submit your poem in the comments below! Happy Poetry Month! — Julie

—

Julie is Production Manager at Half Price Books Corporate.You may follow her on Twitter at @auntjewey.

Attention, parents and educators! HPB wants to help your children’s school libraries! Now through Sunday, February 17, 2013, register at http://www.hpb.com/schools and tell us how your school would use a $100 HPB gift card to enhance your school library. We’ll randomly select one winner from each of our 22 markets on March 4, 2013.

And stay tuned, because all registered schools will be invited to a Half Pint Library giveaway in their area later this spring. Last year, with the help of our generous customers’ donations, HPB gave away more than 340,000 children’s books nationwide to local schools and nonprofit organizations during our 14th annual Half Pint Library Book Drive. Here are just a few ways the donated books helped build Half Pint Libraries across the country in 2012:

– Books for a children’s reading area for a learning center in Kansas City, Kansas

– Literacy program rewards in Lexington, Kentucky

– After school tutoring resources in St. Paul, Minnesota

– Prizes for a “Book Walk” at a festival in College Station, Texas

– English Language instruction for Ecuadorian children through Camarones Community Coalition out of Madison, Wisconsin

In 2013, we’re excited to partner with our customers to get even more books into the hands of children who need them the most. This year’s Half Pint Library Book Drive runs February 17-March 31, 2013. During that time, drop off your new or gently used children’s book at any Half Price Books location.

After the drive is complete, Half Price Books will match each book donated as part of our Million Book Donation Project and will distribute the books at special giveaway events in each of our markets in the spring. Stay tuned to hpb.com/hpl for a giveaway event near you!